The Cartel 44 is a big thing existent in my family. For years, they have been going after my family. Cartel 44 is a group of kidnappers separated into different groups. Every group goes after a certain person. The main guy, like the president of the cartel tells the groups who to go after. Once they are captured they are taken to the building where they keep everyone that is kidnapped. They use the word “Secuestrando” which means kidnapping. That is what the cartel is known for. With the cartel they call your family and ask them for say one million dollars for the person to get released back to freedom. If not, they keep that person and train them to be a part of the group. In the group that person doesn’t use their birth name or nothing from their actual birth certificate. They get new papers new name new birth certificate. They are a completely different person in that group. Go in as one and come out completely different.

My uncle was kidnapped two years before I was born. So in 2003 he was kidnapped for a couple days. I think from what I remember from the story that he was kept hostage for 1 week. He was the first one in my family to get kidnapped. Everyone blames my uncle that he is the reason why we are where we are because of him. No one really paid attention to when my uncle got kidnapped. But after he was kidnapped, him and his family crossed the river and came to Texas.

Now onto my cousin. He had just gotten married that summer in June. He got kidnapped on July 24, 2010. He had just been leaving my house to go back home. On the way out he remembered that he needed a drink for work. So he stopped at the store just down the road. When he parked the truck and got off three trucks surrounded his truck. It was the same trucks that had kidnapped my uncle. But ever since that night he got kidnapped, no one in my family has heard a thing from him. No one knows if he is still alive or dead or what is going on. We met this lady that used to be in the group, but they kicked her out. She had said that she met him and that he is worried about us as well.

My Uncle’s friends are also in the situation with the Cartel. It is the same uncle that got kidnapped once before. His friends go by Caco and Chacho. My uncle is still in the same situation as once before. All of them were targeted as the three C’s. My uncle’s name is Cesar. So Caco, Chacho, and Cesar. My uncle’s friend Caco got shot in June of 2017 right outside of his house. They had been at the door all morning calling his phone and driving by. Caco had seen that they were gone for a while, so he went outside. As soon as he opened the door, they drove up and shot him and drove off. Same thing happened with Chacho. He had been leaving work and the truck was parked next door. As soon as he pulled out of the parking lot, the truck went behind him and followed all through the streets. He finally got to the store and parked. As soon as he opened the door, he got hit.

Now a days, you aren’t safe anywhere. We had threats about shooting in Walmart. You really aren’t safe anywhere. Everyone in my family thinks my cousin is dead, but I’m the one left with hope in my heart.